Joint Pain or arthritis is the number one chronic illness in America. One person in 7 suffers from it.

Many people are use glucosamine, chondroitins and MSM to manage pain and to supply building materials for joint repair. While these are very helpful, particularly with osteoarthritis, I would like to mention some other natural remedies for arthritis.

Diet changes can be as remarkable as any drug or supplement in eliminating joint pain and inflammation throughout the body. Eliminating foods that trigger inflammation in the body such as white flour, orange juice, coffee, dairy, red meat, white sugar, or nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers) can be very helpful. Most of the foods I mentioned create excess acid in the body which can create not only joint problems, but other problems as well. These include indigestion, allergies, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.

A whole body cleanse is an amazing tool to get rid of excess acid and stored toxins that overload the body – sometimes leading to joint pain. Try one and see if it helps. Note that if you don’t change your diet, the cleanse will not be able to eliminate more than you are putting in on a daily basis - so give the body a chance to heal by changing your diet too.

Omega 3 oils are anti-inflammatory and lubricating to all cells including the joints. A good high quality fish oil can be very helpful for arthritis.

Devils Claw and Yucca have both been used traditionally for arthritic and rheumatic conditions. They are anti-inflammatory and cleansing to the joints. The cleansing action is particularly useful in gouty arthritis.

Celadrin is a fatty acid that acts as a lubricant, an immune system modulator and an anti-inflammatory. Celadrin resets the immune system such that it does not attack and tear down the joints. Several customers have switched to a glucosamine / celadrin formula with very favorable results.

Hyaluronic Acid is used to lubricate and preserve moisture in the joints and it helps get nutrients to cells that don’t possess a blood supply – like your joints. Hyaluronic acid is also great for aging skin and dry eyes. It is available topically, for internal use, and by injection – it is now an ingredient in several joint formulas.

Natural anti-inflammatories, or COX-2 inhibitors, help calm inflammation and joint pain. Prescription drugs such as Celebrex and Vioxx are COX-2 inhibitors - with side effects typical of prescription drugs. Well known natural COX-2 inhibitors include ginger, rosemary, turmeric and boswellia. Zyflamend is a best selling combination with lots of research behind it, but the single herbs are good as well.

Hydrangea is worth mentioning – it is an ingredient that helps break down abnormal calcification. It is also helpful with bone spurs (as is magnesium) and is worth a try if nothing else has worked.

There are many products that will help support joint health naturally. Sometimes it takes a little experimentation to find what will work best for you. Not all arthritis is the same, so when in doubt, ask for advice from someone who has knowledge of how the different products work.

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